Gas-meter-protecting means



- s. H. sAU-roN f GAS METER PHOTECTING MEANS Filed Aug. 1e. 1922 2 5mm-Sheet 1 '1922 2 sheets-sheet 2 QN. Nm... MN. A

4,. f u m .MHP f i G. H. SAU-EON GAS METER PHOTECTING MEANS Jan, 8

'Filed Aug. 18,

@gy/@m Patented Jan. 8, 1924.

' UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE H. SAUTON, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-SIXTEENTH TO EDWARD H. WALSDOR-F AND ONE-SIXTEENTH TO LOUIS HUFFT, BOTH OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

GAS-METER-PROTECTING MEANS.

Application filed August 18, 1922. Serial No. 582,669.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that. I, GEORGE H. SAUTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Gas-Meter- Protecting Means, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gas meter protecting means, and the primary object of the invention is'to provide improved devices for completely enclosing and locking the.` coupling unions or nuts of the communicating pipes of a. gas meter or similar registering device to prevent any possibility of tampering with the coupling unions or nuts by unauthorized persons and obstruct nefarious interference with the regular flow of gas through the meter and false registration of the amount of gas used. A further object of the invention is to lock the improved coupling union or nut enclosing devices by a connecting concealed locking organization which will resist all tampering efforts to release the same by preventing the introduction of wires or implements of anj7 sort from the exterior of the organization for the purpose of reaching and releasing' the locking components. A still further object of theq invention is to lock the improved coupling union or nut enclosing devices by connecting means that require breakage to effect a release of said devices, and thereby defeat resetting or reapplying of the improved devices to normal positions and readily disclose irregular practices to divert the gas yflow from a meter if an attempt is made to accomplish this purpose.

Vith these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

ln the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevation of a part of a gas meter 4of ordinary form and the communi- I eating pipes therefor, showing: the improved protecting means applied thereto in locked condition;

Fig. 2 is a.4 perspective view of the improved protecting means. shown on an enlarged scale and illustrating the parts open and the spring elementseparatedtherefrom;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate sideI elevations of the parts of the improved protecting means and relatively positioned to show the manner of associating the same;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale through the locking mechanism for the connecting members of the improved protecting means and showing the parts of said mechanism prior to fulllocking positions thereof;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showin the parts of the locking mechanism in ful locked positions;

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section through the improved locking mechanism as shown by Figs. 6 and 7;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of one of the end enclosures or boxes partially broken away and showing the joint for the members thereof in horizontal section; and

Fig. 1()l is a section on the line 10-10, rio". 9. j

The improved protecting means comprises a continuous hull or tubular member 5 fixed at its opposite ends to enclosures or box members 6 and 7 of similar construction and to which are respectively hinged like enclosures or box members 8 and 9 having tubular connecting arms 10 and 11 projecting inwardly therefrom and adapted to overlap when closed against the connecting member 5 and form with the latter a complete tubular connecting or bridging means between the end closures or box members, which conjointly provide a tight housing over the coupling unions or joint nuts 12 and 13 of the pipes '14 and 15 having communication with the meter 16 in the usual manner. To adapt the application of the closure or box sections 6 and 8 over the couplings or joint nuts 12 and 13 of the pipes 14.- and 15, the said closure or box sections are formed with semicircular openings 17 in the upper and-lower sides thereof, which conjointly produce circular openings when the said sections are closed. Adjacent to the outer end 18 of the respective enclosures or box-like sections 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 al hinge plate 19 is secured in parallel relation to each of said ends and spaced a distance from the latter, the inner edges of these4 hinge plates being projected beyond the inner terminal edges of the ends 18 'and rolled,

as at 2O and 21, to form elongated hinge knuckles, the knuckles 2l oi' the sections 6 and 9 being smaller and adapted to snugly and movably slide into the larger vknuckles 2() otl the sections 7 and 8, these knuckles be ing in reverse positions on the respective closures or box like sections 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 to provide hinged joint connections which will permit the tree opening and closing movements of the sections 8 and 9 'and their connecting members l and ll relatively to the connecting men'iber 5, and to so position the said enclosure or box-like sections that lthey may partially overlap at the top and bottom portions thereof to effectively close the joints between the sections when the latter are shut and locked, as clearly shown by 10. The opposing sections 7 and S haverprojecting flangesj22 and 23 contin/uing from the bottom portions thereof, to effect vthe overlapping relation or" the jointsbetween these sectionsl as just eX- plained. It is proposed to constructV all of the parts of the improved protecting and locking means otcast rmetal of `suitable thickness, the inner 'opposing ends ofl the sections 6, 7, 8 and 9 being preferably thicker than the remaining parts, to give the sections sutlicient rigidity for securement and support of the members 5, 10 and l1. rI he outer double end wall construction of the sections 6 7, 8 and 9 and including the hinge plates l9also produce a strong structure, in that the hinge devices, orthe rolled edges or knuckles and 2l, are removed from the outer end plates 18, and 4furthermore, this doublere'nd wall construction will materially defeat any attempts to separate the sections 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 at thepoints of their hingedjointure. The tubular vmembers 5, 10 and 11 also have an overlapped edge association when the members 10 and llare closedfagainst the member 5, the top plates 23 of the members lOand ll engaging over a iange 24 extending outwardly from the underside of the top plate 25 of the member 5, and the bottom plates 26 of the members lOand l1 lit over the edge portion of the bottoinplate 27 ofthe member 5, and by this means af sealed joint is produced throughout the `full length of the closed members 1 0, l1 and 5.

The purpose of makingy all of the joints of the cooperating 4partsfabovedescribed of a Sealed or overlapping nature is to prevent the introduction of wires or other devices through the jointslv forthe purpose of tam pering with the locking mechanism which will bepre'sentlyl explained All ottheparts ot thel end enclosinghollow boxes formed bythe sections6:andj7and -8 and, 9 and also the members5, 10 andfllf will becompa'ra'tivelyl light and economical in A the: cost Otmanufactura butA 'atthe' same, time, they willlbe strneiaedi estable? It lrierilee to make these parts uniformly ot a resisting character relatively to considerable exteriorly applied force or pressure that mayk of a flat metal'spring 28 held in the member` 5 at the center of the latter. On one side of the center of the bottom plate 27 ot' the member 5 an angular keeper 29 is secured and projects over the inner side of said latter plate at a suitable distance from a metal combined space and guard block 30 of considerable thickness and of a width to extend Jfully over the inner side of the bottom plate 27 of theimember'5pas clearly shown by Fig. 2. The-.one end 31 of' this combined guard and space block 3Q is beveled to form a clearance for the action ofthe spring4 28 and to facilitate the insertion of a catch device which will be hereinafter explained. Adjacent to the beveled endv3l of the block 30 is an angular or L-sha`ped combined guard and space blockr 32 which is of `less thickness than'the block 30 but forms with the beveled end 3l of the latter a pocket or lockingspace 33, as clearlyshown by Figs.

6 and 7. The edge of the bottom plate 27 of the member 5 between the beveled lend 3L of the block 30 and the adjacent end ot' the blockk 32-iscut away to provide a clearance recess, 34 for the movementin between. the said block ends olf-a rigid support projecting catch 35 carried bythe inner end of the member` 10, the said catch 35 continuing from the inner reduced end of a guard and space block 86 secured in the said member l0, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The top plate of the member 5 has an inner downwardly projecting retention lug 37 for the spring and the latte-r has its one end 38 flattened and pushed under the keepery 29, the intermediate bowed portion 39 of the spring extending up to the inner side of the top plate inside of the lugv 37, and the oppo site end extending downwardly over the beveled end 3l ot the combined space block and guard 30 and terminating adjacentito the inner edge ofthe block 32. The freeend 40 of this spring is alsostraightened and normally stands at a 4slight incline to the intermediate bowed body portion 390V the spring and has a slot 4.1 openingthrough the inner edge which is confined `Within the members 5; 10 and 11 andV between the beveled end 31 of the block 30 and the adjacent end of the block 32.. The inner freeI endY of the member 171 has a wedgelblock `42.

projectingtherefrom.-y with `a ybeveled side 4c3adapted tofclose over andjbelocatedadi' 21e-entf te the' innerY @resina- @edsV ofthe' s clined wall 'for the locking space /33vinto which the yfree slotted end 40 of the spring 28 projects. Y The improved locking mechainism also includes a movable locking .ele-

vthe formation of a transverse slot 45 in the said catch which receives thegreduced port-ion 46 of the free end 40 of the spring 2.8 and which is formed in view of the provision of the slot 41, this slot permitting the free extremity of the catch 35 to move freely -therein or wit-hout obstruction when the reduced catching portion'46 of the spring 28 slips into the slot 45'of the catch.

In applying the improved gas meter protecting means to the meter communicating pipes 14 and 15, the members l() and 11 are opened far enough relatively to the member 5 to permit the sections 6 and 7 to be fittedv snugly against the pipes 14 and 15 over the coupling unions or joint nuts of the latter, and then the said members 10 and 11 are closed or moved inwardly towards the member 5, care .being vtaken to seat .the ballv or movable locking element 44 between the end 31vof the block 30 and :the adjacent end of the block 32 and against the free end 40 of thel sprin 28. In closing the members 10 and 1l, t e member 11 is first pushed inwardly slightly in advance ofthe member 10, so that the inner free'end of the latter member may overlap the inner free end of the member 11, the said inner free end of the member 10. having a joint flange 47'to embrace the inner free end of the said member 11. When the member 11 is closed, the ball or movable locking element 44 engages the inclined side 43 of the wedge projection 40 and is slightly jammed against the free end 40 of the spring 28 and holds the said spring end in the position shown by Fig.- 7. When the catch 35 moves inwardly with ythe member 10 intothe locking space 33 between the -beveled end 31 of the block 30 and the adjacent end of the block 32, the portionof the spring extending across the' said locking space is pressed upwardly by the reduced end 48 of said catch,`and this vupward pressure of the 'spring continues until the reduced portion 46 of said spring engages the slot 45 of the catch, and at this instant lthe two `members become firmly locked and will be so held by the wedging action instituted through the ball or`mov able locking member 44 by the wedge projection 42,k andthe entire protecting means with its overlapped edges will have :all of the jonts'fully'coverd and protected and 47 yand 8-an the locking means',h will be completely enf closed within'the members 5, 10 and 11 and inaccessible :from any point. j T he wedge projection 42 and the blocks 30, 32 and 36 carried byand positioned inthe members 5,

10'andx11, as hereinbefore explained, shield andprotect the vital portions of the lock, as it were, against boring operations and 1n- `sertion 0f wire or other implements for the purpose of dislodging or dissociatingthe parts ,of the lock.` Even though openings 'were' bored through the sides or enclosing plates of the members 5, 10 and 11 adjacent to the block mechanism and a wire or other implement inserted, displacement of the locking elements and release of the catch v35 would be defeated, in view of the fact that the ball or movable locking element is held tightly in place against thel free end 40 of the spring 28 and cannot be dislodged from such position either to the right or left longitudinally of the connecting members or elevated, in view of the position of the block 32, the catch 35 and the wedge projection or block- 42, and as a consequence, the only possiblefwa to separate the sections 6 and j 9 to render the coupling unions or joint nuts of the pipes 14 and 15 accessiblewould be tobreak or entirely cut through or sever'the connecting members 5, 10 and 11 and this latter procedure would obviously frustrate any subsequent attempt to re" fact the protecting means when once applied cannot be o-pened except by breaking or destroying the same. v`Instead of making the parts ofthe improved protecting means of cast metal, it will be understood that other materials adapted for the purpose may be used and similarly formed, it being possible, for instance, to mold'the parts from glass or analogous vitreous material, or va composition of materials may be used. The reversely arranged hinged' joint connections at the outer ends of` the enclosing or box-like sections, in addition to the advantages hereinbefore specified, facilitate t-he application of the meter protecting means to the meter communicating pipes,- and in thepreferred manner of applying the improved protcting means,the member 5 with rio las

the sections G and 7 carried at oppositeends thereof will be lfirst fitted to the meter pipes over the coupling unionsor join-t nuts and the sections 8 and 9 respectively connected to the said sections 6 and 7 and the members l0 and 11 then closed into the member 5, as hereinbefore specified. The enclosing or box-like sect-ions at the ends ofthe members 5, l() and 11 are shown'. as angular in contour and conjointly provide square enclosing means. t will be understood, however, that these enclosures or box-like sections maybe changed in shape to conform to any vparticular contour oi joint means applied to the `communieating pipes for the meterfand furthermore, the proportions and ydimensions ot the several parts may be lvaried as desired and found necessary.

What is claimed as new is:

l. In a gas meter-protecting means, the combination with the couplingi joints .of pipes communicating with a meter, of `enclosing means completely coveringeachcjoint and having hollowmembers. extending from oneto the other of the said means,y the hollow members being in ypart fixed `tothe enclosing means and, in lpart movably associated with the latter and provided with interfitting extremities and movable to and from the fixed parts of the hollow members, and locking devicescompletely held and concealed within the said membersand automatically secured `when the movable mem.- bers are closed to protect the locking ydevices against exterior manipulation.

2. A gas meter protecting means .having terminal devices for fully enclosing pipe joints and provided with hollow connecting members in part rigidly attached to the devices and in part movable and provided with interfitting extremities which are normally separable, and locking means concealed within the hollow connecting members and in part carried by the ymovable members and automatically locking the movable members and the entire device against removal from the pip-e joints when the movable members are closed and thereby permanently securing the protecting means and rendering the same releasable only by breaking andv destroying the said members.

3'. A gas meter protecting means comprising end enclosures toi' completely covering pipe. joints'and including a hollow member immovably secured thereto and also movable hollow sections extending between the `end enclosures, and locking means wholly enclosedby the` immovablemember and sections and automatically looked by the closure of the sections to permaneiit-ly secure the protecting `means to the pipe joints and the protecting means vthus given a non-openable application except by destruction of the parts of the said protecting means.

e.. A sae matera-Protecting.means having j Apipe I joint (enclosures 1. comprisingy sections v separably and movably attached toy each` other,` a Ipart of the sections having a hollow rigid connectionextending from one to the other .and the remaining portions of the sections having movable hollow members tion. tio the: other and havelinterlitting extremitieszfand also inner joint edges tocoopei'ate with the edges of the rigid connecting niembei, and locking means wholly mounted and. concealed within the rigid and movable connecting members between .the secprising terminal joint enclosing sections-I`- which .extend across yfromy one enclosure .sec`

having a separable hinged associationandy provided with connectingv members lwhich and in part normally: `movable with relation to the remainingportions lof `the sections,

and locking means enclosed within' the `connecting members and operating to automati- Iare .in part fixed toA port-ions of the sections 1 cally and 4permanently lock. the latterand j the sections against movement when the protectingy means is applied.

6. A gas meter protecting means comprising terminal joint. enclosing sections reversely separable and connected by hingej oints, a part of the sections being connected r by a memberf continuing from one tothe other and the remaining. sections having connecting members .movable therewith and closable into the` continuous member, and locking means interposed between and enclosed within the said members to permanently secure the latter and the sections.

7. A` gas meter protecting means comprising hollow terminal yenclosures for pipe joints, each enclosure havingza similar structure and part of the enclosures rigidly .connected.v by a'continuous hollow-cro'ss member and the remaining part of the enclosures provided with` hollow connecting means which aremovable therewith, and locking means vfully enclosed within'. the hollow cross' member and. the hollowconnectingmeans movable with theenclosuresf ing hollow terminali pipe joint enclosures' connectedk by a continuous hollow member and also by lsectional connecting members movable in relationqto-.thesaid continuous hollow member, and automatically operating lockingjmeans *(-inclos'jed part vwithin the said members and secured by closing the movable sectional connecting member` inwardly against the said continuous member, thereby rendering the locking means eX- teriorly inaccessible, removal of the protecting means being possible only by breakage of the members connecting the pipe joint enclosures.

9. A gas meter protecting means, having hollow terminal pipe joint enclosures comprising movable' sections, a part of the sections having a continuous connecting member between them and the remaining sections provided with shorter connecting sections movable into close engagement with the continuous member, and locking means having different portions thereof carried by the respective members and enclosed within the latter and serving to permanently lock 20 the said members and sections against opening movement When the protecting means is applied. v

10. A gas meter protecting means having terminal pipe joint enclosures composed of similar sections movably and separably connected, a part of the sections being fixed in spaced relation by a continuous 'connecting member and the remaining sections having shorter connecting members fixed-thereto and movable into the continuous member the members and sections having overlapping joints, and locking means in part carried by the continuous member and in part held by the shorter members and enclosed Within the members and operable yto lock the members and sections in permanent closed positions.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

GEORGE H. SAUTON. 

